U.S. patent application number 14/834446 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-03 for cooking device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Miele & Cie. KG. Invention is credited to Ruediger Hoehn, Carolin Kaudewitz, Thomas Metz, Andre Peters, Christian Schulze.
Application Number | 20160066366 14/834446 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53886935 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160066366 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Metz; Thomas ; et
al. |
March 3, 2016 |
COOKING DEVICE
Abstract
A cooking system includes a cooking appliance with a microwave
heat source and a cooking container for receiving food. The cooking
appliance includes a cooking chamber having a muffle and a support
device arranged on the muffle that positions the cooking container
in the cooking chamber. The cooking container has a base and four
side walls arranged transversely to the base as two opposing
longitudinal sides and two opposing broadsides. The cooking
container, at transitions from the two opposing broadsides to the
two opposing longitudinal sides, has four corners, each of which
has a rounded region having an external radius of at least 30 mm to
maintain a minimum spacing from the muffle to counteract electrical
flashovers between the cooking container and the cooking
chamber.
Inventors: |
Metz; Thomas; (Buende,
DE) ; Hoehn; Ruediger; (Hiddenhausen, DE) ;
Kaudewitz; Carolin; (Rheda-Wiedenbrueck, DE) ;
Schulze; Christian; (Enger, DE) ; Peters; Andre;
(Herford, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Miele & Cie. KG |
Guetersloh |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
53886935 |
Appl. No.: |
14/834446 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/339 ;
219/725 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 27/04 20130101;
H05B 6/647 20130101; A47J 36/027 20130101; H05B 6/6408 20130101;
A47J 2027/043 20130101; H05B 6/6479 20130101; H05B 6/6402
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05B 6/64 20060101
H05B006/64; A47J 27/04 20060101 A47J027/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 29, 2014 |
DE |
10 2014 112 423.5 |
Claims
1. A cooking system comprising: at least one cooking appliance
comprising: at least one microwave heat source; at least one
cooking container configured to receive food; at least one cooking
chamber having at least one muffle; and at least one support device
arranged on the at least one muffle configured to position the at
least one cooking container in the at least one cooking chamber,
wherein the at least one cooking container has at least one base
and at least four side walls arranged transversely to the base
comprising at least two opposing longitudinal sides and at least
two opposing broadsides, wherein the at least one cooking
container, at transitions from the at least two opposing broadsides
to the at least two opposing longitudinal sides, has at least four
corners, each of which has at least one rounded region having an
external radius of at least 30 mm configured to maintain a minimum
spacing from the at least one muffle so as to counteract electrical
flashovers between the at least one cooking container and the at
least one cooking chamber.
2. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the minimum spacing
between the at least one cooking container and the at least one
muffle is at least 8 mm.
3. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the rounded regions are
formed on at least one container edge arranged on at least one of
the at least four side walls, the at least one container edge
comprising at least one of at least one end edge projecting
outwards from at least one of the at least two opposing broadsides
or at least one side edge projecting outwards from at least one of
the at least two opposing longitudinal sides.
4. The cooking system of claim 3, wherein the at least one end edge
is narrower than 20 mm.
5. The cooking system of claim 3, the at least one support device
has at least one horizontally extending rod that is configured to
serve as a guide for the at least one side edge.
6. The cooking system of claim 5, wherein a clearance between the
at least one rod and the at least two opposing longitudinal sides
is a maximum of 4 mm.
7. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the at least one support
device has at least one stop for the at least one rounded region
that is configured to limit an insertion depth of the at least one
cooking container in the at least one cooking chamber.
8. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the at least four side
walls have a height of at least 30 mm.
9. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the at least four corners
each have at least one rounded region having an internal radius of
a maximum of 30 mm.
10. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the at least one cooking
container has a depth along the at least two opposing longitudinal
sides and a width along the at least two opposing broadsides, the
width being at most three times the depth.
11. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the at least one support
device is arranged in an electrically insulated manner on the at
least one muffle.
12. The cooking system of claim 1, wherein the at least one cooking
appliance is configured as a combined appliance having a steam
cooking function and microwave cooking function.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10
2014 112 423.5, filed on Aug. 29, 2014, the entire disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooking system comprising
a cooking appliance and at least one cooking container for
receiving food. The cooking appliance comprises at least one
microwave heat source. The cooking appliance comprises at least one
cooking chamber having at least one muffle and at least one support
device arranged on the muffle for positioning the cooking container
in the cooking chamber.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Cooking appliances generally have one or more heat sources
for preparing food in a cooking chamber. In this case, a
combination of different heat sources is often particularly
expedient, as the heat sources then supplement one another with
respect to their advantages. Thus, for example, a microwave heat
source has very good efficiency as the energy of the microwaves is
immediately available and the food is cooked from the inside. Steam
heat sources, for example, allow particularly gentle cooking and
prevent food from drying out during cooking.
[0004] The combination of different heat sources is a technical
challenge, in particular in the case of so-called combined
appliances having a microwave heat source and a thermal heat
source. On the one hand, in a combined appliance of this type, the
cooking chamber together with the cooking containers used must be
heat-resistant in relation to the temperatures to be expected when
operating the thermal heat source. On the other hand, when using
microwave heat sources, care has to be taken that unfavourable heat
and voltage flashovers do not occur due to the power input.
[0005] Care should be taken particularly in the design of cooking
containers for combined appliances of this type to ensure that
flashovers do not occur between the cooking container and cooking
chamber, as such flashovers can spoil the appearance of the cooking
container or even damage it and also affect the cooking chamber
casing.
[0006] Cooking containers are therefore known from the prior art,
which are formed of plastics material or ceramic. In addition,
cooking containers made of metal are also known, the use of which,
however, in microwave operation, is prohibited by the
manufacturers. In commercial appliances, metallic cooking
containers, which are received in tray trolleys in such a way that
the spacing from the cooking chamber is very large, are known. The
drawback in this is the very high space requirement, so solutions
of this type are ruled out in the tight dimensions of a household
appliance.
SUMMARY
[0007] A cooking system includes a cooking appliance with a
microwave heat source and a cooking container for receiving food.
The cooking appliance includes a cooking chamber having a muffle
and a support device arranged on the muffle that positions the
cooking container in the cooking chamber. The cooking container has
a base and four side walls arranged transversely to the base as two
opposing longitudinal sides and two opposing broadsides. The
cooking container, at transitions from the two opposing broadsides
to the two opposing longitudinal sides, has four corners, each of
which has a rounded region having an external radius of at least 30
mm to maintain a minimum spacing from the muffle to counteract
electrical flashovers between the cooking container and the cooking
chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention will be described in even greater
detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not
limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages
of various embodiments of the present invention will become
apparent by reading the following detailed description with
reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the
following:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the cooking system
100;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a cooking container of
the cooking system according to FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the cooking container
according to FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the cooking container according
to FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cooking container
according to FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged external section of a cooking
container in a cooking chamber; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is the external section according to FIG. 6 with a
cooking container inserted in a tilted manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The cooking system according to the invention comprises at
least one cooking appliance and at least one cooking container for
receiving food. The cooking appliance has at least one microwave
heat source and at least one cooking chamber having at least one
muffle. At least one support device for positioning the cooking
container in the cooking chamber is provided on the muffle. The
cooking container comprises at least one base and at least 4 side
walls arranged transversely to the base. It is possible for at
least one side wall to be formed by a door at least in part. The
side walls comprise at least two opposing longitudinal sides and at
least two opposing broadsides. In this case, the cooking container
has at least 4 corners at transitions from the broadside to the
longitudinal side. The corners are configured here having at least
one rounded region in each case to maintain a minimum spacing from
the muffle. The rounded region, in this case, has at least one
external radius of at least 30 mm in order to counteract electrical
flashovers between the cooking container and cooking chamber.
[0017] The cooking system according to the invention has many
advantages. A substantial advantage is that at least one cooking
appliance and at least one cooking container are provided, the
cooking container having rounded regions having an external radius
of at least 30 mm. A minimum radius of this type ensures that an
adequate minimum spacing can always been maintained between the
cooking container and the cooking chamber. Smaller radii would lead
here to the corners of the cooking container coming so close to the
cooking chamber that voltage flashovers may occur. As a result, the
cooking container according to the invention can be formed without
problems from a metallic material without voltage flashovers
occurring during regular operation in microwave operation.
[0018] A further advantage of the cooking system is that the
available cooking chamber can be optimally utilised. As voltage
flashovers are already reliably avoided owing to the rounded
corners, the cooking container can be correspondingly tightly
received in the cooking chamber. The cooking system can be
particularly advantageously used in the domestic sector owing to
such an optimal utilisation of space.
[0019] The rounding of the corners also provides hygienic
advantages here as cooking containers of this type can also be very
easily cleaned and kept clean. This is advantageous, for example,
compared to cooking containers from the prior art, which curl the
container edge in a complicated manner in order to avoid
flashovers. Such curled regions are, however, generally very
difficult to keep clean. In addition, rounded areas of this type
provided according to the invention having the corresponding radius
can be implemented in an uncomplicated manner during production and
therefore economically produced.
[0020] In a preferred development, the external radius of the
rounded region is at least 35 mm. With a radius of this type, the
occurrence of electrical flashovers can be prevented still more
effectively.
[0021] In another preferred development, the minimum spacing
between the cooking container and muffle is at least 8 mm. The
minimum spacing is particularly preferably at least 10 mm. A
minimum spacing of this type ensures reliable flashover protection
and at the same time provides optimal utilisation of space for the
cooking container in the cooking chamber. It is provided, in
particular, here that the minimum spacing is maintained regardless
of the positioning of the cooking container on the support device.
In particular, the external radius of the rounded region is matched
here to the required minimum spacing. For example, a minimum
spacing of at least 10 mm can be achieved particularly well by
means of a rounded region having an external radius of more than 35
mm. In particular, the minimum spacing is also maintained when the
cooking container is arranged in a tilted and/or slightly oblique
position on the support device.
[0022] The rounded regions are preferably formed on at least one
container edge. The container edge is arranged here, in particular,
on at least one side wall. In particular, the container edge
comprises at least one end edge projecting outwards from the
broadside. The container edge can also comprise at least one side
edge projecting outwards from the longitudinal side. A container
edge of this type may serve particularly well for guiding the
cooking container in the support device. The rounded regions
configured on the container edge reliably prevent falling below the
minimum spacing from the muffle, in particular even when the
cooking container is guided in an at least slightly tilted manner.
In particular, the container edge comprises at least one end edge
arranged transversely to the broadside and/or at least one side
edge arranged transversely to the longitudinal side. The end edge
and/or the side edge preferably extend substantially parallel to
the base of the cooking container. The end edge is, in particular,
narrower than 20 mm. The end edge is preferably narrower than 12
mm. In particular, the end edge is wider than 3 mm and preferably
wider than 5 mm. It is also possible for no end edge to be provided
at all. Configurations of this type permit the volume of the
cooking chamber to be optimally utilised. In addition, the region
of the cooking container provided for the food is not unnecessarily
restricted thereby.
[0023] In an advantageous development, the support device has at
least one horizontally extending rod. In particular, at least two
rods are provided. The rods are in particular arranged at the same
height on opposing sides of the muffle. It is also possible for two
respective opposing rods to be provided at different heights in the
cooking chamber. In this case, two respective rods characterise an
insertion position for the cooking container. The rod is, in
particular, suitable for serving and configured to serve as a guide
for the side edge. In this case, the side edge in particular rests
on the rod at least in part. The rod has, in particular, a diameter
of at least 3 mm and preferably of at least 4 mm. A bending of the
rods, even in the case of heavily loaded cooking containers, can be
reliably avoided by a diameter of this type.
[0024] A clearance between the rod and at least one of the
longitudinal sides is particularly preferably a maximum of 4 mm.
The clearance is preferably a maximum of 2.5 mm. Owing to such a
small clearance, tilting of the cooking container in the support
device is effectively prevented. In addition, the small clearance
prevents the minimum spacing from being falling below.
[0025] It is possible for the support device to have at least one
stop for the rounded region. In this case, the stop is, in
particular, suitable for limiting and configured to limit an
insertion depth of the cooking container into the cooking chamber.
The stop may also be provided here for a side wall and/or the
container edge. For example, the stop is configured as a transverse
strut. The transverse strut runs, in particular, transversely to at
least one rod, which is provided for guiding the side edge of the
cooking container. A stop of this type effectively prevents the
broadside of the cooking container striking against the rear
cooking chamber wall, which may result in flashovers occurring.
[0026] The side walls preferably have a height of at least 30 mm.
The height of the side walls is particularly preferably at least 40
mm.
[0027] In particular, the corners in each case have at least one
rounded region having an internal radius of a maximum of 30 mm. The
internal radius is preferably less than 24 mm. By taking into
consideration such dimensions for the internal radius, the
occurrence of voltage peaks can be reliably counteracted.
[0028] It is preferred for the cooking container to have a width
which is at most 3 times a depth. The width extends here along the
broadside and the depth extends along the longitudinal side. In
particular, the width and depth have a ratio here of about 2:1.
[0029] For example, the width of the cooking container is 325 mm
and the depth is 170 mm. A ratio of width to depth of this type
effectively prevents bending of the rods of the support device even
in the case of very loaded cooking containers.
[0030] The support device is preferably arranged in an electrically
insulated manner on the muffle. In particular, at least one
insulating body is provided here between a rod and the muffle. For
example, the rod is inserted in a recess of the muffle, the rod
being surrounded by an insulating sleeve. Voltage peaks are avoided
by an insulating receiver. It is, however, also possible for the
support device to be electrically contacted by the muffle.
[0031] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cooking
appliance is configured as a combined appliance having a steam
cooking function and a microwave cooking function. For this
purpose, at least one steam heat source and at least one microwave
heat source are provided. The advantages of the cooking container
described above can be utilised particularly well in a combined
appliance of this type. On the one hand, the cooking container in a
metallic configuration is particularly suitable for receiving the
food during a steam cooking process and, on the other hand, it can
be used in microwave operation without having to fear voltage
flashovers.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a cooking system 100 according to the invention
comprising a cooking appliance 1 and a cooking container 2 received
in a cooking chamber 3 of the cooking appliance 1. The cooking
appliance 1 can be operated by a user by means of an operating
device 104 and has a cooking chamber 3 for treating the food. The
cooking chamber 3 can be closed by means of a door 105. For warming
or heating the food, the cooking appliance 1 has a microwave heat
source 11 and a schematically shown steam generator 10. Further
thermal heat sources may be provided, such as upper and lower
heating members or a circulating air heat source. In this case,
different heat source can be operated individually or else in any
combination. The cooking appliance 1 can be configured both as a
built-in appliance and a stand-alone cooking appliance 1. The
cooking appliance 1 is configured as a combined appliance 21
here.
[0033] The cooking chamber 3 is surrounded here by a muffle 13,
which, together with the door 105, prevents an escape of microwaves
and substantially also steam. The door 105 can be opened by a door
opener. At least one safety device is provided, which prevents
microwave operation when the door 105 is not correctly closed.
[0034] A support device 4 is arranged on the muffle 13 for
positioning the cooking container 2 and also other food carriers
such as baking sheets or gratings. The support device 4 consists
here of two support gratings fastened to opposing side faces of the
muffle 13. The support grating consists here of a plurality of
rods, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction or in the
transverse direction and are interconnected. In this case, one or
more cooking containers 2 can be inserted in different height
positions along the longitudinal rods.
[0035] In an embodiment by way of example, the cooking container 2
is shown in a plan view in FIG. 2 and in a side view in
longitudinal section and in cross section respectively in FIGS. 3
and 4. FIG. 5 shows the cooking container 2 in a perspective
view.
[0036] The cooking container 2 comprises a base 12 having a
plurality of holes for improving the passage of steam. A total of 4
interconnected side walls 22 are arranged transversely to the base
12. The side walls 22 are arranged at an angle of slightly greater
than 90.degree. with respect to the base 12 in order to make it
possible to more easily remove food from the cooking container 2.
Two respective opposing side walls 22 are configured as broadsides
222 and as longitudinal sides 221. The broadside extends over a
width 224 which, by way of example, is 375 mm here. A depth 223,
which is, by way of example, 197 mm here, is produced along the
longitudinal sides 221.
[0037] A container edge 52 surrounding the cooking container 2
extends along the side walls. The container edge 52 is formed on
the broadside 222 as an outwardly projecting end edge 522. An
outwardly projecting side edge 521 is arranged along the
longitudinal side 221. The side edge 521 and the end edge 522 are,
for example, 10 mm in width.
[0038] To ensure a minimum spacing between the cooking container 2
and muffle 13, the cooking container 2 has corners 32, which are
provided with rounded regions 42. The rounded regions 42 have an
external radius here of at least 35 mm. The side walls 22 have a
height 220 of 40 mm. Internal radii of a maximum of 24 mm are
provided on the corners 32. An internal radius of the container
corners 32 configured in this manner ensures precise and stable
guidance of the cooking container 2 in the support device 4. In
addition, corners, which can per se cause unfavourable voltage
excesses during microwave operation, are avoided.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a detail plan view of a cooking container 2, which
is received in a cooking chamber 3 on a support device 4. The
support device 4 comprises a rod 14, on which the inserted cooking
container 2 rests. The rod 14 is fastened in an electrically
insulated manner in a recess of a muffle 13 of the cooking chamber
3. A minimum spacing of, by way of example, 15 mm is maintained
here between the cooking container 2 and the muffle 13, so that no
electrical flashovers occur during microwave operation.
[0040] FIG. 7 shows the cooking container 2 of FIG. 6 in a tilted
position. Because of the rounded region having an external radius
of, for example, 40 mm here, the minimum spacing 5 required for
protection against flashovers is also not fallen below in this
tilted position. In this case, the side edge 521 of the cooking
container 2 rests on the rod 14.
[0041] The cooking system 100 presented here allows the use of
metallic cooking containers 2 and, in particular, stainless steel
cooking containers, during microwave operation at low cost and in a
hygienically safe manner, and having a large occupancy surface.
[0042] In this case, the construction of the cooking container 2
ensures that a minimum spacing 5 is always maintained between the
cooking container 2 and cooking chamber 3. This is achieved, in
particular, by the rounding of the cooking container corners 32 and
by the ratio of depth 223 to width 224. In the interaction between
the cooking container 2 and cooking chamber 3, precise and stable
guidance of the cooking container 2 is also ensured by a tight
clearance being present between the cooking container 2 and support
device 4, the cooking container 2 having small internal radii and
the rods 14 of the support device 4 having an adequately large
diameter.
[0043] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration
and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and
not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and
modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the
scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention
covers further embodiments with any combination of features from
different embodiments described above and below. Additionally,
statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an
embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all
embodiments.
[0044] The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the
broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing
description. For example, the use of the article "a" or "the" in
introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive
of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of "or" should
be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of "A
or B" is not exclusive of "A and B," unless it is clear from the
context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is
intended. Further, the recitation of "at least one of A, B and C"
should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements
consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as
requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C,
regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or
otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of "A, B and/or C" or "at least
one of A, B or C" should be interpreted as including any singular
entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the
listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B
and C.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0045] 1 cooking appliance [0046] 2 cooking container [0047] 3
cooking chamber [0048] 4 support device [0049] 5 minimum spacing
[0050] 11 microwave heat source [0051] 12 base [0052] 13 muffle
[0053] 14 rod [0054] 21 combined appliance [0055] 22 side wall
[0056] 32 corner [0057] 42 rounded region [0058] 52 container edge
[0059] 100 cooking system [0060] 104 operating device [0061] 105
door [0062] 220 height [0063] 221 longitudinal side [0064] 222
broadside [0065] 223 depth [0066] 224 width [0067] 521 side edge
[0068] 522 end edge
* * * * *